Puigdemont called to testify on charges of terrorism in Supreme Court in June

Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has been called to testify on terrorism charges in Spain's Supreme Court on June 17, as announced on Monday.

Judge Susana Polo has requested Puigdemont and MP Rubén Wagensberg to appear voluntarily between June 17 and 21 as part of the Tsunami Democràtic case. As announced, the testimonies will be via videoconference, and those under investigation will need to be accompanied by a lawyer.

The judge has launched a European Investigation order to discover the whereabouts and home addresses of those under investigation.

While the first day to testify has been set for June 17, the videoconference will be scheduled after confirming the exact date between the court and Puigdemont and Wagensberg, between June 17 and 21.

In February, the Supreme Court opened criminal proceedings for both politicians for their involvement with pro-independence protest group Tsunami Democràtic, which was especially active in 2019 when the organizers of the 2017 independence referendum were given prison sentences, sparking widespread protests in Catalonia. 

The Supreme Court unanimously agreed back then to open criminal proceedings, acting on a request from Judge Manuel García-Castellón of Spain's National Court, who had asked the higher court to take on the case he was overseeing.

Public Prosecutors at the Supreme Court concluded that there was no cause to investigate Puigdemont for terrorism and requested that the case be shelved, but the Supreme Court judges disagreed and appointed Judge Susana Polo to lead the investigation. 

The judges consider it "necessary and pertinent" that Puigdemont and Wagensberg be investigated by the Supreme Court in particular because they both held public office.